LEAP PROJECT
WHAT PROBLEM IS THE INTERVENTION ADDRESSING?
Soil water is critical in banana production cycle. Prolonged drought, increasingly affect banana production and productivity that greatly threaten food security of people especially in the cattle corridor.
Changes in climate have affected the soil – water requirements for East Africa highland banana in East African Community (EAC). Banana productivity is heavily affected by the effect of long droughts. Food insecurity, famine, no water for human and livestock, loss of crops and livestock, reduced income.
The LEAP project is phenotyping the banana biodiversity to identify climate smart varieties with optimal market potential in Africa.
Changes in climate have affected the soil – water requirements for East Africa highland banana in East African Community (EAC). Banana productivity is heavily affected by the effect of long droughts. Food insecurity, famine, no water for human and livestock, loss of crops and livestock, reduced income.
The LEAP project is phenotyping the banana biodiversity to identify climate smart varieties with optimal market potential in Africa.
FOCUS AREA OF OPERATION
The project is focusing on 40 farmers in drought prone areas of Ntungamo and Sembabule in the cattle corridor.
The project has identified and is evaluating the potential of improved banana cultivars for drought tolerance including Kabana 6H, NAROban 3, NAROban 4, NAROban 5 and one local check; Mpologoma. The NARO improved banana varieties are advantageous because they offer high yields of >50ton/ha/yr, resistance to black sigatoka and have tolerance to major pests and disease.
The project has identified and is evaluating the potential of improved banana cultivars for drought tolerance including Kabana 6H, NAROban 3, NAROban 4, NAROban 5 and one local check; Mpologoma. The NARO improved banana varieties are advantageous because they offer high yields of >50ton/ha/yr, resistance to black sigatoka and have tolerance to major pests and disease.
PROJECT GOAL
Increase food and income security in banana growing communities by identifying drought tolerant banana varieties with high yields, resistance to pest and disease and optimal market potential within the East African Community and beyond.
Project Objectives
The main objective of this project is to sustainably improve banana production by identifying banana cultivars that are suitable to the local environment with specific focus on drought tolerance and Fusarium wilt disease resistance.
This has been done by exploiting the diversity of already existing banana genetic resources of farmers preferred varieties and recently released elite hybrids that are high yielding and also resistant to pests and disease, through consultations with stakeholders along the banana value chain for further evaluation in selected drought prone areas of Uganda.
Specific objectives of the project
- Identify and evaluate the potential of improved banana cultivars for drought tolerance
- Evaluate and recommend elite dessert bananas that are tolerant to Fusarium wilt disease, race-1
- Train banana stakeholders on sustainable banana production
Image showing a comparison of a drought - stricken plantation and a well managed plantation.
The main objective of this project is to sustainably improve banana production by identifying banana cultivars that are suitable to the local environment with specific focus on drought tolerance and Fusarium wilt disease resistance.
This has been done by exploiting the diversity of already existing banana genetic resources of farmers preferred varieties and recently released elite hybrids that are high yielding and also resistant to pests and disease, through consultations with stakeholders along the banana value chain for further evaluation in selected drought prone areas of Uganda.
This has been done by exploiting the diversity of already existing banana genetic resources of farmers preferred varieties and recently released elite hybrids that are high yielding and also resistant to pests and disease, through consultations with stakeholders along the banana value chain for further evaluation in selected drought prone areas of Uganda.
HOW WILL THE INTERVENTION BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY?
1. Have access to drought tolerant banana cultivars suitable for dry areas in Uganda.
2. Banana farmers will be equipped with good agronomic practices envisioned under Parish Development Model (PDM) pillar 1.
3. The communities will have established youth managed seed/ planting material multiplication nurseries .
2. Banana farmers will be equipped with good agronomic practices envisioned under Parish Development Model (PDM) pillar 1.
3. The communities will have established youth managed seed/ planting material multiplication nurseries .
